911 and 311 Industry News
Charlottesville-area 911 center gets upgrade
Staff / NBC 29 News
September 21, 2023
Virginia is making an effort to improve responses for 911 calls.
Vancouver police hand out free 911-only mobile phones for low income seniors
Tiffany Crawford / Vancouver Sun
September 20, 2023
Vancouver police are handing free mobile phones to low income seniors to ensure they can call 911 in an emergency.
Seniors on fixed or low incomes are sometimes less inclined to rely on technology for safety and support, particularly if that involves a monthly cost, the VPD said in a news release on Wednesday.
NYC Shorts 311 Operators On Boot-Up Time, Ex-Worker Says
Caleb Drickey / Law360
September 21, 2023
The call center workers who operate New York City's nonemergency services 311 line are denied pay for pre-shift time spent preparing for their workdays, a former worker alleged in a proposed class.
Volunteers wanted to help clean up Baltimore communities on October 21
CBS Baltimore Staff / CBS News Baltimore
September 21, 2023
BALTIMORE - Mayor Brandon Scott is encouraging the community on October 21 to help clean up Baltimore.
The Mayor's Annual Fall Cleanup and Day of Service will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and volunteers are needed.
Ophelia provides first test of new Northeast Boundary Tunnel in DC
Christian Flores / ABC7 News
September 23, 2023
WASHINGTON (7News) — Steady rain throughout the day Saturday from Storm Ophelia provided the first stress test for a new tunnel designed to mitigate flooding in a particularly flood-prone area in Northeast D.C.
“You can request a bike rack via 311 and they are very responsive!”
Prince of Petworth / PoPVille
September 22, 2023
“Pro tip: You can request a bike rack via @311DCgov and they are very responsive! @DDOTDC requested some follow up information about the location, confirmed the spot it would be placed, and voila a brand new bike rack about 1.5 months later! A great free service to use!”
Chicago should fully embrace alternatives to 911 police response for mental health calls
Letters to the Editor / Chicago Sun Times
September 22, 2023
Next summer a new state law will require every 911 district in the state to refer appropriate calls to a non-police mental health crisis response program.
Hawkins Co. dispatcher recognized after assisting with childbirth over the phone
Faith Little / WJHL News
September 24, 2023
ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — A Hawkins County dispatcher named Suzanne Paxton received a “Stork Award” for her work in helping a woman deliver a baby—over the phone.
For Migrants in New York Shelters, 60-Day Limit Creates More Confusion
Hurubie Meko / The NY Times
September 23, 2023
New York City is implementing new rules in its homeless shelters in what officials said was an effort to reduce crowding as thousands of migrants continue to arrive from the southern border.
Good Samaritan suffered burns pulling truck driver from fiery wreck
Mauricio Casillas / NBC 4 Washington
September 25, 2023
A hero who helped pull a driver from a fiery wreck in Northern Virginia last week says instinct kicked in when he rushed to the burning truck.
Ex-police chief’s Apple Watch called 911 after he was struck in fatal Vegas hit-and-run
David Propper / NY Post
September 26, 2023
The Apple Watch worn by the retired police chief who was fatally mowed down while cycling in Las Vegas alerted authorities to the emergency — playing an alarming automated message as panic could be heard in the background, according to newly released audio of the 911 call.
Clear Creek County wants to save money by outsourcing who answers its 911 calls
Cole Sullivan / NBC9 News
September 26, 2023
IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. — Clear Creek County Commissioners plan to formally ask Jefferson County's 911 center to take over answering emergency calls as the county shutters its own dispatch center in a money-saving move.
City of San Diego's Get It Done app receives thousands of homeless encampment reports
Jasmine Ramirez / CBS8 News
September 25, 2023
SAN DIEGO — San Diego's "Get It Done" app is used to report potholes, illegal dumping and graffiti. San Diegans are also using the app to report homeless encampments.
The San Diego Police Department says they sometimes receive a few hundred encampment reports per day.
California's DMV launches a mobile drivers license
Staff / NBC Los Angeles
September 25, 2023
More than 1.5 million state residents now have access to their mobile drivers license via the DMV app. Lolita Lopez reports for the NBC4 News on Sept. 25, 2023.
Cobb County 911 center launches Logan's List | What to know
Paola Suro / 11Alive News
September 26, 2023
COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The Cobb County 911 center launched a new resource Monday, with the hopes of making interactions between law enforcement and the community safer. The tool, known as Logan's List helps first responders identify people who have special needs or mental health conditions and respond accordingly.
You can now contact 911 through texting across Washington
Kaitlyn Smock / NBC Right Now
September 26, 2023
KENNEWICK, Wash.- Suncomm 911 communications Yakima announced today on Facebook that Text-to-911 is now available statewide.
Indy's new clinician-led 911 response team hopes to save lives with therapy, not police
Ko Lyn Cheang / IndyStar
September 27, 2023
The man was anxious, believing his apartment wasn't safe. He called 911. The police responded at first, but realized there was no threat, so they called for the clinicians.
Counties want Pennsylvania 911 surcharge extended, increased
Tom Lehman / WGAL News
September 26, 2023
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A monthly surcharge on phones that serves as a primary funding source for 911 services in Pennsylvania will expire next year unless lawmakers extend it, though county leaders are seeking not only a continuation of the fee but also an increase to the rate.
Seattle hires six community responders to help with 911 calls
Lilly Ana Fowler / KNKX News
September 26, 2023
Three years ago, after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd, more people in Seattle began demanding alternatives to conventional policing. Now, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is launching a pilot program that is a small step in that direction.
These New Laws Go Into Effect Around The D.C. Region On October 1
Colleen Grablick / DCist
September 27, 2023
Somehow, it’s the end of September. And while the federal government is probably shutting down, the D.C. region is gearing up for a slate of new laws. Typically, Jan. 1 and July 1 are the most popular dates for legislation to go into effect as they align with fiscal year calendars but Oct. 1 occasionally corresponds to new laws in the books as well.
Text-to-911 can't geolocate as accurately as voice calls, putting vulnerable more at risk
Candice Nguyen, Jeremy Carroll, Erin Panell and Michael Horn / NBC Bay Area
September 27, 2023
Disproportionately impacting the Deaf and victims of violence, California’s 911 texting system does not offer the same location accuracy as 911 voice calls, an NBC Bay Area investigation found.
Survey: 82% of US 911 Call Centers are Understaffed
Nik Rajkovic / KTRH News Radio
September 28, 2023
As crime runs rampant in major U.S. cities, 911 centers in Houston and elsewhere are woefully understaffed and stressed out, leading to longer emergency response times.
Rat infestation on the rise in DC, expert blames pandemic & excess trash
Carl Willis / ABC7 News
September 27, 2023
WASHINGTON (7News) — The metric used to gauge rat infestation in D.C. is the number of complaint calls through 3-1-1.
“Those complaints have been going up," Gerard Brown, the Program Manager of Rodent and Vector Control for the city told 7News.
City starting education campaign and investing money to stop illegal dumping
Matt Roy / FOX San Antonio
September 27, 2023
SAN ANTONIO - The city of San Antonio is furthering their efforts to combat illegal dumping by spending more money and proactively reaching out to citizens for help and solutions.
They are also starting an educational campaign to tell citizens how they can dispose of items safely and, more importantly, legally.